With over 40 million people dying of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) every year, it's high time that governments took action to address them. And according to a prominent leader in Sharjah, the first step is to push for preventive strategies.
Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, founder and patron of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) and wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, said: "The first step to defeat NCDs is to include prevention strategies as part of the sustainable development goals of countries.
"This inclusion will ensure all stakeholders - health, educational and social institutions - work together under a national umbrella to prevent it."
Sheikha Jawaher made the statement during the launch of the Global Forum on Non-Communicable Diseases for Children and Youth on Monday. Over 200 experts from health and educational institutions, took part in the forum held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.
The World Health Organisation defines NCDs - or chronic diseases - as illnesses that tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as asthma) and diabetes.
Dr Mychelle Farmer, a paediatrician specialising in adolescent health, said: "NCDs affect millions of people each year, shortening the lives of so many when they would otherwise be leading active lives, enjoying with their families."
Out of the 40 million people who die of NCDs, over 1.5 million are children and adolescents, Dr Farmer said.
"We need bold action now, and we must take it together. We will share ideas about NCD prevention and early intervention. There are practical solutions to improve the quality of life for those affected by and living with NCDs.
"During the forum, we will document ideas through a new online tool. For the next two days, we will plant the seeds for future work and collaboration."
Family's stories
Victoria Watson, research analyst at the Centre for Health and Gender Equity and a cancer survivor, said: "I was lucky to survive the disease because I was in Canada. I feel that it's important to discuss how important it is to have access to good and specialised paediatric cancer care both at the hospital and at the community level.
"I was pulled out of school and my life was all about battling my disease. It led to socio-economic constraints on the family. Thus, cost-effectiveness, priority setting, good evidence, good communication skills are key to tackling childhood cancers."
Ethiopian cancer advocate Wondu Bekele, founder of Mathios Wondu Cancer Society, said: "I lost my son to cancer. I gave up two jobs because it was conflicting with the time that I needed to provide for my child.
"It entailed transportation costs to other cities in bigger hospitals, apart from massive medical bills. I feel we need to have effective cancer control plans by governments and private entities to help support people and families affected by cancers."
Cancer survivor Sidney Chahonyo, board chair of Hope for Cancer Kids and member of the African Regional Committee and Childhood Cancer International, Kenya, said: "Close to 70 per cent children in my country have no access to good treatments due to surging hospital bills and high medication costs, so cancer often means a death sentence for them. Through my work, I try to navigate patients and their families towards the curative aspect and also the psycho-social aspect when affected by non-communicable diseases."
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